Y106 OCR A LEVEL HISTORY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.Buy Quality Materials!
What was the role of CODESA 1?
- Formed in 1991, organisation charged with preparing South Africa for democracy post-
Apartheid
- The new government had to be agreed by existing tricameral parliament (i.e. White
South Africans, Indians and Coloureds)
- The entire process had to be completed in 5 years.
- All major political group spare the Inkhata and PAC attended CODESA 1
What was the significance of the declaration of intent?
- It was a statement committing to the creation of a non-racial, gender-inclusive, multi
party democracy (political pluralism)
- It stated that elections must be held with universal suffrage
- Proportional representation must be implemented.
- Any subsequent government had to obey the constitution
- A referendum was held in 1992 among white voters with 69% favouring the proposed
reforms
What was the role of CODESA 2?
- Formed in 1992 after the success of the Declaration of intent and the referendum. It
was charged with developing a new constitution.
What was the significance of the record of understanding?
Negotiations broke down between the ANC and NP due to differences in ideology. The
Record of understanding sealed their commitment to continue negotiations.
Pre-requisites to the deal:
- All political prisoners would be released
- Banning of traditional weapons used in racial attacks
- Restrictions on hostile Zulu dwellers
The Record of Understanding:
- Power sharing between major parties in the GNU (ensure that the NP doesn't lose all
political influence as huge demographic shift would see them loose lots of influence)
- Parties with more than 5% of the overall vote (proportional representation) would have
members in government - i.e. a Coalition. ('Rainbow Nation')
- Government would guarantee pensions to all public employees, some 40% of
Afrikaners- 'Sunset Clause'
- Constitution could only be changed with a 66% super majority vote.
What was the interim constitution of 1993?
- Transitional Executive Council set up in September 1993 to facilitate the transition to
democracy in South Africa.
- Primary goal was to ensure protection for minorities, while accepting majority rule (i.e.
Prevent witch hunting of Apartheid era White leaders, and quell racial violence)
- Core value of upholding the principles of the 1955 Freedom Charter and racial
, equality.
- Bill of Rights established to include separation of powers.
- Government of National Unity would include members from parties with > 5% of the
vote as per the Record of Understanding.
- Power sharing guaranteed for 5 year until the 1999 elections.
- Supreme Court established
- New constitution established 9 provinces each with independent governments that
would have equal representation in the Senate.
- Parliament would be split between a National Assembly voted by proportional
representation, and the Senate.
What was the constitution of 1996?
- Created in December 1996 after the GNU collapsed.
- Upholds most of the principles of the 1993 interim constitution.
HOWEVER
- Power sharing agreement was scrapped.
- No threshold for government representation - coaltion was under threat.
- NP withdrew from the GNU in 1996, citing a lack of consultation in the new
constitution. De Klerk resigned as Deputy President.
What problems did the ANC face before the 1994 elections?
- Mass dissent from within the ANC between those who remained in South Africa and
those who were banned or in exile, with those in exile accused of having an easy time.
- Winnie Mandela also weakened Mandela's position in negotiations as she was
sentenced to a six year prison sentence (reduced to a fine) for vigilante activities after
being unbanned.
- Due to mass banning of the core ANC leadership, it lacked organisation and discipline
What problems did the NP face before the 1994 elections?
- Many members of the NP didn't want a settlement due to the fear of their safety, due
to ongoing violence. - PAC chanting 'One settler, one bullet'.
- Many feared for their livelihoods, as Black Africans became more skilled and made up
drastically more of the population, it threatened Their privileged position in the
workforce.
What were the major ideological differences between the two parties that limited
negotiations?
ANC
- Wanted a unaliased central state, and one parliament to promote integration.
NP
- Wanted a minority veto for constitutional proposals.
- Promoted federalism where separate states have independent powers.
- Pressure from the conservative factions with the party to stall negotiations.
Problems overcome as both sides wanted to prevent further violence, grow the
fractured economy and promote democracy in South Africa.
- Issues largely settled in the Record of Understanding (See flashcard 4).
ANSWERS.Buy Quality Materials!
What was the role of CODESA 1?
- Formed in 1991, organisation charged with preparing South Africa for democracy post-
Apartheid
- The new government had to be agreed by existing tricameral parliament (i.e. White
South Africans, Indians and Coloureds)
- The entire process had to be completed in 5 years.
- All major political group spare the Inkhata and PAC attended CODESA 1
What was the significance of the declaration of intent?
- It was a statement committing to the creation of a non-racial, gender-inclusive, multi
party democracy (political pluralism)
- It stated that elections must be held with universal suffrage
- Proportional representation must be implemented.
- Any subsequent government had to obey the constitution
- A referendum was held in 1992 among white voters with 69% favouring the proposed
reforms
What was the role of CODESA 2?
- Formed in 1992 after the success of the Declaration of intent and the referendum. It
was charged with developing a new constitution.
What was the significance of the record of understanding?
Negotiations broke down between the ANC and NP due to differences in ideology. The
Record of understanding sealed their commitment to continue negotiations.
Pre-requisites to the deal:
- All political prisoners would be released
- Banning of traditional weapons used in racial attacks
- Restrictions on hostile Zulu dwellers
The Record of Understanding:
- Power sharing between major parties in the GNU (ensure that the NP doesn't lose all
political influence as huge demographic shift would see them loose lots of influence)
- Parties with more than 5% of the overall vote (proportional representation) would have
members in government - i.e. a Coalition. ('Rainbow Nation')
- Government would guarantee pensions to all public employees, some 40% of
Afrikaners- 'Sunset Clause'
- Constitution could only be changed with a 66% super majority vote.
What was the interim constitution of 1993?
- Transitional Executive Council set up in September 1993 to facilitate the transition to
democracy in South Africa.
- Primary goal was to ensure protection for minorities, while accepting majority rule (i.e.
Prevent witch hunting of Apartheid era White leaders, and quell racial violence)
- Core value of upholding the principles of the 1955 Freedom Charter and racial
, equality.
- Bill of Rights established to include separation of powers.
- Government of National Unity would include members from parties with > 5% of the
vote as per the Record of Understanding.
- Power sharing guaranteed for 5 year until the 1999 elections.
- Supreme Court established
- New constitution established 9 provinces each with independent governments that
would have equal representation in the Senate.
- Parliament would be split between a National Assembly voted by proportional
representation, and the Senate.
What was the constitution of 1996?
- Created in December 1996 after the GNU collapsed.
- Upholds most of the principles of the 1993 interim constitution.
HOWEVER
- Power sharing agreement was scrapped.
- No threshold for government representation - coaltion was under threat.
- NP withdrew from the GNU in 1996, citing a lack of consultation in the new
constitution. De Klerk resigned as Deputy President.
What problems did the ANC face before the 1994 elections?
- Mass dissent from within the ANC between those who remained in South Africa and
those who were banned or in exile, with those in exile accused of having an easy time.
- Winnie Mandela also weakened Mandela's position in negotiations as she was
sentenced to a six year prison sentence (reduced to a fine) for vigilante activities after
being unbanned.
- Due to mass banning of the core ANC leadership, it lacked organisation and discipline
What problems did the NP face before the 1994 elections?
- Many members of the NP didn't want a settlement due to the fear of their safety, due
to ongoing violence. - PAC chanting 'One settler, one bullet'.
- Many feared for their livelihoods, as Black Africans became more skilled and made up
drastically more of the population, it threatened Their privileged position in the
workforce.
What were the major ideological differences between the two parties that limited
negotiations?
ANC
- Wanted a unaliased central state, and one parliament to promote integration.
NP
- Wanted a minority veto for constitutional proposals.
- Promoted federalism where separate states have independent powers.
- Pressure from the conservative factions with the party to stall negotiations.
Problems overcome as both sides wanted to prevent further violence, grow the
fractured economy and promote democracy in South Africa.
- Issues largely settled in the Record of Understanding (See flashcard 4).
